Now Labour wants ‘nuclear planes’

LABOUR is considering backing a plan to replace Trident submarines with a cheaper, aircraft-based nuclear deterrent.

The proposal, drafted originally for a Liberal Democrat think-tank, will be considered by Labour’s defence spokesman Emily Thornberry.

The plan would see nuclear submarines ditched and replaced with a new system of nuclear weapons dropped from the air, a type of deter- rent last relied on by Britain in the 1950s and 1960s.

Its supporters say it would save the taxpayer up to £13billion by taking Britain ‘a step down the nuclear ladder’.

But backbench Labour MPs reacted with disbelief to the proposal, which comes just weeks after Jeremy Corbyn said he would like to deploy submarines ‘without nuclear weapons’.

Yesterday it emerged that defence analyst Toby Fenwick, who came up with the idea, is to brief Miss Thornberry on the proposal as part of her review of Labour defence policy.

His plan was originally published by the CentreForum think-tank ahead of the 015 election, and is also being looked at as part of the Lib Dems’ own review of Trident. The proposal would see 135 new F35C Joint Strike Fighter ‘stealth’ planes adapted to deliver B61-1 nuclear bombs, operating out of air bases as well as the UK’s two new aircraft carriers.

The planes could not provide round-the-clock capability but could mobilise rapidly in the event of a nuclear crisis.

Under the plan, four new submarines to replace Trident would not be ordered.

Yesterday John Woodcock, Labour MP for Barrow and Furness and a supporter of Trident, tweeted: ‘Labour led the way ridding UK of tactical nuclear weapons, but now we want them again? Oh please.’

And he claimed: ‘Building these new warheads would cost more than new submarines for the weapon we were trying to convince others to scrap.’